By Samantha Anderson, KRDO.com

Posted November 5, 2009

COLORADO SPRINGS – A Colorado Springs man is suing Parkmoor Village Healthcare Center on allegation of elderly abuse.

Paul Johnson has been taking care of his friend Bill Starkey for the past year. A few months ago, Johnson noticed negative changes at Parkmoor Village. “I would walk into his room, he would smell like urine, couldn’t find his call light, it was on the floor and he would be without his oxygen,” claims Johnson.

According to Johnson, when he confronted management he was told they were short handed and just getting new staff. “I don’t care short-handed or not, personal care must be maintained,” Johnson said.  He admitted he had an attitude with staff members, but said he was fed up with the poor treatment. “There’s no excuse for this.”

Things got worse in September when Starkey’s health declined. “He pulled out a catheter on the 14th, never notified anybody, he could have died because of this,” said Johnson. Starkey went to the hospital, where it took a blood transfusion to save his life.

Johnson has removed Starkey from Parkmoor Village and placed him in a new nursing home. He has filed a lawsuit against the nursing home, claiming everything from elderly abuse to insurance fraud. “They do not need to be in business if they’re running a business like this.”